As a mechatronics engineer, you'll play a dual role in both designing next-generation systems and ensuring our current fleet operates reliably. You'll contribute to the design of electronic subsystems and mechanical systems for our robotics and automation platforms, collaborating with the engineering team from concept through prototyping and into production. Our growing spaces present unique challenges for electromechanical systems—corrosion, vibration, moisture, and demanding duty cycles—which means your designs must be robust, serviceable, and manufacturable at scale. Beyond design work, you'll be on the front lines diagnosing and resolving complex system failures, using these field insights to drive design improvements and inform reliability requirements. If you're energized by the complete product lifecycle—from circuit design and mechanical prototyping to hands-on troubleshooting and failure analysis—this role offers a rare opportunity to see your designs come to life and evolve based on real-world performance.

About Hippo Harvest

We are a controlled environment agriculture (CEA) startup that leverages plant science, machine learning, and robotics to economically and sustainably grow vegetables in greenhouses.

Description

Overview

In a world increasingly impacted by climate change, pollution, and population growth, conventional production of fresh/fruiting vegetables is unsustainable. Compared to field production, greenhouse hydroponic methods use 90% less water, increase yields, reduce food waste, use fewer pesticides, eliminate fertilizer runoff, and allow crops to be grown locally. However, greenhouse producers make up only a small part of today's market due to high capital/labor costs and operational complexity. To close this gap, Hippo Harvest uses new methods of hydroponics, robotics, and machine intelligence to re-imagine greenhouses and build the sustainable, economical, and scalable production systems of the future.

Our hardware team is transitioning from active prototyping toward hardened designs ready for scale, and you'll be instrumental in this evolution. You'll design electronics that withstand harsh greenhouse environments, develop mechanical solutions that balance performance with manufacturability, create SOPs that enable operational teams to maintain systems effectively, and continuously refine designs based on field data and failure modes you observe firsthand.

You Will

Design and develop electronic systems including circuit boards, power distribution, sensor integration, motor control, and communication architectures for robotic and automation platforms
Create mechanical designs and assemblies for electromechanical systems, selecting appropriate materials, fasteners, and manufacturing methods for greenhouse environments
Produce detailed schematics, PCB layouts, wiring diagrams, and mechanical drawings (CAD) for manufacturing and assembly
Design for reliability, serviceability, and manufacturability, incorporating lessons learned from field failures and maintenance challenges
Diagnose and resolve complex system failures across electrical, mechanical, and software domains, performing root cause analysis to prevent recurrence
Develop SOPs and diagnostic procedures for operational teams to maintain and troubleshoot an expanding array of systems
Build prototype hardware, test fixtures, and diagnostic tooling to validate designs and support production operations
Iterate on existing designs to improve reliability, reduce cost, and prepare systems for scaled manufacturing
Collaborate with cross-functional teams including software, mechanical, and operations to integrate systems and drive continuous improvement
Work hands-on with schematics, PCB layouts, and mechanical drawings to build, wire, and commission prototype and production hardware

You Have

Bachelor's degree in Mechatronics, Electrical Engineering, Mechanical Engineering, or equivalent practical experience
At least three years of experience designing and building electromechanical systems from concept to production
Proven experience with electronic design including schematic capture, PCB layout (Altium, KiCAD, Eagle, or similar), and component selection
Experience with mechanical design using CAD software (we use OnShape; experience with SolidWorks, Fusion 360, or similar is transferable)
Strong understanding of electrical engineering fundamentals: power systems, analog/digital circuits, signal conditioning, motor control, and communication protocols
Experience designing for harsh or industrial environments with consideration for thermal, moisture, vibration, and corrosion challenges
Hands-on prototyping skills including soldering, crimping, harness assembly, and working with PCBAs, PLCs, sensors, motor controllers, and robotic systems
Track record of diagnosing complex system failures and implementing design changes to improve reliability
Proficiency with electrical test equipment (oscilloscopes, multimeters, power supplies, signal generators)
Ability to work independently, driving projects from requirements definition through validation and deployment

Preferred Qualifications

Experience with motion control systems, robotics, or autonomous vehicles
Familiarity with manufacturing processes and design for manufacturing (DFM) principles
Knowledge of environmental protection standards (IP ratings, conformal coating, corrosion-resistant materials)
Experience with embedded systems and firmware development
Background in industrial automation or agricultural technology

We Offer

An exciting and fun work environment where your contributions will make a true difference
A hybrid work environment, with 4 days a week in person at our Pescadero facility, and 1 day a week working from home
Full benefits package including six weeks of paid vacation, medical/dental/vision/life insurance, twelve weeks of paid parental leave, 401k with company match, company stock options